Electrical switching device



R. M. ALLEN.

ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION ElLED AUG.I3, 1920.

1,415,972, Patented'May16,1922.

To all whom it may 00mm.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY M. ALLEN, or BLOOMFIELD, New messy; ASSIGNOR- ro wnsrmm ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK- ELECTRICAL swr'ronme'nnvrcn.

Application filed August 13, 1920. Serial No. 403,210.

Be it known that I, ROY M. ALLEN, a citizenv of the United States, residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, hav e invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switching Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This-invention relates in general to electrical switching devices and particularly to snap switches.

The invention provides a key for use in telephone or similar circuits where it is desirableto switch from onecircuit-to another with the smallest possible interval of elapsed time between the disconnection of the one circuit andconnection with the other.

It is the object of this invention to provide a switch of the snap type which shall be simple, inexpensive'to manufacture, and positive in operation.

These objects are accomplished by the invention in its preferred form by the use of a rotatingslightlypointed lever operated cam, a roller member resiliently resting "thereagainst and contact spring members against which the roller alternately snaps as the cam is rotated from side to side.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the drawings which illustrate the embodiment which the inventor prefers. Fig. 1 shows a general view ofthe invention; Fig. 2, shows the switch with portions of the frame cut away to show the detailsof the cam and its coo aeration with the roller member; Fig. 3 shows a view of the switch in its position alternate to that of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows the details of the roller member.

@na suitable frame 1 is mounted a rota-- table cam 2 pivoted on the shaft 3. The cam 2 is rotated manually by means of a lever 4. The'frame. 1 is )referably of the form described in B. h'aft Patent No. 1,012,125 of December 19, 1911, although any suitable form may be used in the zip-- other wear resisting material, which rotates freely on the shaft 13. The roller 14 is provided with a bearing surface15, and

Specification of Lett efs Patent. f Patented M 16,1922

flanged edges 16 at either side of the bearing surface 15 to keep the roller'c'entered on the cam 2. Rollers 17 also rotate on the shaft 13 and are positioned one on each side of the roller 14, being separated therefrom by the spacing washers 18. The shaft- 13 and the shaft3 are connected by coil springs from apex 20'so that the tension in the coil. sprmgs19 pulls the rollers 17 over against either spring 6 or spring 7 depending upon which side of the roller 14 the apex 2O happeils to be. The rollers 17 remain in such position while the cam is rotated to a point where the apex 20 bears upon the surface 15, as indicated in Fig. 2, when the roller 17 suddenly snaps to the other side. The time occupied in rolling from one set of springs to the other is very slight and is independent ,of the speed of operation of the cam 2.

Contact springs 6'and 7 are sufficiently resilient so that the pressure of the roller "17 against them is sufficient to cause them to contact with their corresponding contact springs 5 and 8 respectively.-

he cam .2 is provided with shoulders 21 and 22 which cooperate with, the frame 1 to iimit the distance which the cam can rotate. In order to prevent rebounding of the cum 2 when the shoulders 21 and 22 strike the frame 1, shock absorbing springs 23 are fitted into apertures 24 cut in the cam 2.

iVhat is claimed is:

1. In a switching device a plurality of switch m mbers, a rotatable earn a roller rnernberesiliently mounted to press I said cam whereby upon rotation of s i men is caused o aftecon P ch 65 19 which hook over the ends of the two against said switch members. and said'cam and cooperate with said cam to operate said switch members alternately upon backward and'forward motion of said cam.

Ina switching device, a plurality of switch members, a resiliently mounted roller means to operate said switch members, and a rotatable cam having two bearing surfaces cooperating with said roller means, said surfaces having increasing diameters and meeting at a common apex of greatest diameter.

f4. In a switching device, a plurality of switch members, a resiliently mounted roller means to operate said switch members, a rotatable cam having two bearing surfaces c ooperating with said roller means, said surfaces having increasing diameters and meet ing at a common apex of greatest diameter, shoulder means provided on said cam to limit the rotation thereof, and shock absorb: ing means provided onsaid shoulder means.

Ina switching device, a 'supporting frame, a plurality of switch members sup ported by saidframe, a roller means resiliently mounted on said frame to operate said 1- switch members, a rotatable cam having two bearing surfaces to cooperate with said member resiliently mounted on said cam and adapted reciprocate on the edge thereof whereby upon rotation of said cam said member is caused to alternately contact the said switch members.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of August A. D., 1920.

, ROY M. ALLEN. 

